This study investigates the admissions of Chicano/Latinos and African American students
in a post affirmative action era at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Data was
collected and analyzed from the University of California Office of the President (UCOP) from
1989-2008 it examines admission trends of students from the fore mentioned-communities and
the impact of eliminating affirmative action programs at UCLA. This dissertation concludes that
the elimination of affirmative action programs has decreased underrepresented students at
UCLA. However, the impact varies by community. For Chicano/Latino students their
representation at UCLA dropped after the elimination of affirmative action but later recovered,
although their representation at UCLA still remains a challenge. For African American
Students, their numbers and percentages are meager and with the elimination of affirmative
action, their representation has dwindled even furthered. The dissertation explores how a public
university like UCLA can ignore a large proportion of students when these two groups together
comprise a large sector of K-12 population in the state. As such, this study questions not only
the commitment of UCLA, but also of K-12 institutions, in making these students competitive to
gain admissions at this highly selective public state university.

Copyright 2010 Otoniel Jimenez.
No part of this dissertation may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author.